Comments on: healing auto-immune disease, by someone who’s been there #1

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 09:54:24 +0000

the intolerance…it says it all, really, doesn’t it. It’s saying our system is fed up.

By: Emm

Emm — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 02:08:48 +0000

Wow, Ok so I’m really sorry for spam commenting you!!! BUT as I said I’m new on your site and the more I’m reading the more I love what I’m seeing! Your story sounds VERY similar to mine, my food intolerances are really just my bodies way of saying “hang on and minute, I’m over this fast paced life, slow down and look after yourself!” I’m really loving your blog and can’t stop reading, glad to hear your life is getting better and better by the day xx

By: gemlina

gemlina — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 11:40:30 +0000

I seem to be on a similar healing journey to the one you described. For the past 2 years, I have been feeling fatigued and depleted, suffering migraines and experiencing severe night sweats. With my 39th birthday looming, my doctor suggested that I was experiencing the symptoms of early menopause. I started investigating such conditions as adrenal fatigue and was considering bio-identical hormone therapy.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 03:13:53 +0000

Great and informative post.
I was wondering if Loulou could give me a bit more info on how she got on top of her Fibromyalga?
My mom suffers from it, not terribly as some people do but enough for it to be a problem.
Thanks so much!!

By: Selena

Selena — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 10:45:56 +0000

Sarah,
Thank-you very much for sharing your story with us and posting this good information. I am 29 years old and was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis in April this year.
I tend to agree with your hypothesis about AI striking people who push themselves too hard. I have always been a very driven person who has pushed myself to be a high achiever. I also have some good friends who are successful women (they will know who they are when they see this post!) who have health concerns, not hashimotos, but other AI conditions.
I first came upon your site in May and it has been a great help to me. I am getting better but still have high antibodies and a restricted diet, so your recipes are great!
I like your wise advice of being gentler and kinder to oneself, but am also struggling with the prospect that I may need to sacrifice my current demanding employment position to seek alternate career ambitions. The ‘red flag’ is certainly there and I am just in the process of finding out what to best transition to.
Thanks again very much for sharing, I relate closely to this post and it brings a certain level of comfort in unsettling times.

By: matty

matty — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 10:41:23 +0000

howdy,

inspiring read, and I can empathise with a lot said. I’m a 35 yo guy and after partying heavily for a long time etc – I was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis about 10 years ago. At first i couldnt, or didn’t want to change my ways. I have come to terms with it a long time ago after a few blips – ie putting on 15-20kgs from the medication. This made it tough as it was a visible reminder everyday in the mirror.

Sometimes you just have to cop it on the chin.

Its in remission now.
cheers
Matty

By: stuff I’ve not been paid to endorse: my best stomach fixes | Sarah Wilson

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 23:10:39 +0000

[...] what I use when my gut is playing up. I have a litany of stomach issues, many stemming from my auto-immune issues, some from just being an over-eater. It’s been called IBS over the years. I just [...]

By: Melita

Melita — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 09:26:00 +0000

What a wonderful thing to come across! I was listening to one of Gill Stannard’s RRR pod-casts on women’s hormones, and she spoke of your website and recommended reading it. So glad I did. About 6 years ago, thanks to the persistence of my naturopath, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid). Blood test confirmed this, and though the level of my TSH was only around 6.5, my symptoms were awful. For the previous 4 years or so I’d gradually put on 15 kilos, got depressed, iron-deficient, etc. I put it down to vegetarianism at the time, but now I’m not so sure. My naturopath put me on the most wonderful herbal thyroid supplement, Thyrotone, made by Metagenics. She also told me to cut out all soy and goitrogenic foods (cauli, turnips, brussels sprouts, parsnips). Within 6 weeks I lost 10 kilos. I wasn’t dieting or exercising any more than usual, but the weight just dropped off. I started eating meat again, which also helped me feel much better and more energised. Within another 3-4 months I lost a further 5 kilos. I felt fantastic. My thyroid levels completely returned to normal, and at one point even went over active. I’m wondering now if this might be a red flag for Hashimoto’s?

However, Metagenics stopped making Thyrotone in about 2007, and didn’t come up with a replacement. I was put on a much simpler formulation, ThyroCo (Mediherb?) around mid 2007. I don’t think this supplement was as effective, and gradually noticed bad things starting to happen again: gradual weight gain, all manner of hormonal problems (heavy periods, fibroids, sore and itchy breasts, mid cycle pain)… all still around today. The last 2.5 years have been hell.

I saw my naturopath for 6 months, believing the problem was purely down to oestrogen excess, but none of her advice or herbs helped at all. I’ve also developed extreme joint pain over the last 3 years. While there may be mechanical issues in my knees, it doesn’t really explain the mystery of my knee pain, which came on literally overnight and wasn’t caused by any injury or trauma. While I’ve had treatment by physios and masseurs and have done loads of stretching and exercises, my knees are still not better.

I’ve had enormous levels of stress the past few years: my Dad had early-onset Alzheimer’s, was put in a nursing home, and recently developed cancer and passed away in April. I had my thyroid levels tested in May, and again they were underactive: only ever so slightly, but the highest level I’d had in years. Even so, the doctor won’t treat it yet, and I’m not sure I want to use conventional medicine anyway.

I’m starting to believe that the thyroid imbalance is at the core of all of my health problems, that and stress; that the thyroid imbalance has led to imbalance of female hormones and probably contributes to my joint pain.

I’ve recently started taking the new thyroid formula made by Metagenics for hypothyroid, Thyrobalance, in the hope it will be as good as the old Thyrotone. It’s early days, but we’ll see…

Am also thinking of going to see naturopath Gill Stannard about diet and other lifestyle changes. I’ve got a referral to an endocrinologist but am not too thrilled about Western medicine and attitudes of practitioners.

Anyway, a long story here, but it’s really great to read about your journey Sarah and your dietary advice in particular really interests me. It’s also nice to have a chance to discuss and share these things – it’s a pretty lonely road and most doctors are fairly unsympathetic.

Melita

By: rachel

rachel — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 20:38:28 +0000

Thank you, perhaps the wake up call I needed. I push myself to the limit in every aspect of my life & get only an average of 4 hours sleep per night. My mum recently died from breast cancer & I often quietly question the universe, if that too is my fate. I know it is if I keep going like I am.
I owe it to myself, not just my 2 beautiful boys & my beautiful mum, to change my life before it’s too late.
Thank you again
Rachel

By: Megan

Megan — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 06:52:08 +0000

Hi Sarah

Just reading this post, thank you so much for sharing. I have the same condition and have been working with Sally Joseph for 10 years – she is amazing. It is refreshing to hear from someone like yourself speaking honestly and openly about this debilitating condition. It does help people, probably more than you know, and you are doing an amazing thing.

Thank you.
Be well
Megan xx